Find out how popular the last name Loomis is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Loomis.

Loomis, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Loomis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Loomis in America

Loomis is the 2485th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Loomis surname appeared 14,518 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Loomis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Loomis to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Loomis

The surname Loomis is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "loma," which means a tool or implement, particularly one used for weaving or tending to looms. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname for someone who worked as a weaver or was involved in the production of textiles.

One of the earliest documented references to the Loomis surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Lomas." This record provides evidence that the name was present in England shortly after the Norman Conquest. Over time, the spelling evolved to Loomis, and variations such as Lomas and Lumas were also used.

The Loomis surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire, areas with a rich history of textile production. Records from the 13th and 14th centuries show the name appearing in these regions, often associated with individuals involved in the wool or cloth trade.

One notable early bearer of the Loomis name was John Loomis, who was born around 1550 in Braintree, Essex, England. He later immigrated to the American colonies, becoming one of the founders of Windsor, Connecticut, in 1638. His descendants went on to establish branches of the Loomis family throughout New England and other parts of the United States.

Another prominent figure was Elias Loomis, an American mathematician, and astronomer who lived from 1811 to 1889. He made significant contributions to the fields of meteorology and astronomy, publishing several influential works and serving as a professor at Yale University.

In the literary world, Reverend Justin Loomis (1810-1885) was a notable figure. He was an American author and clergyman who wrote extensively on theological and philosophical topics, including works such as "The Reasons for Embracing the Doctrine of Universal Salvation" and "The Modern War Against Christ and His Church."

Sir Ralph Loomis (1860-1944) was a British businessman and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the City of London from 1900 to 1906. He was also involved in various commercial endeavors, including the shipping industry and the development of the London Docks.

Finally, Brewster Loomis (1892-1974) was an American writer and journalist who gained recognition for his works of fiction, particularly his short stories. He is best known for his collection "The Circus Comes to Town" and for his contributions to popular magazines of the time, such as The Saturday Evening Post and Collier's Weekly.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Loomis

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Loomis.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Loomis was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Loomis has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Loomis was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Loomis, please contact us.

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